Mamma Mia!

Young people love each other, older people love each other, everyone dances, the older ones even jump on the beds, and everyone sings Abba, Abba, and Abba again. And after the first ten minutes, a slightly contemptuous expression leaves me and is replaced by a smile. And he doesn't want to disappear for anything. There hasn't been a more positive movie in a long time, plus Amanda Seyfried is the sweetheart of the summer of 2008, and all three "fathers" are partially clowns and partially dads to admire. Plus Meryl's The Winner Takes It All is such a fantastic number that I couldn't find any flaws until the (slightly extended) end. When I see it again on the screen, maybe the magic will start to fade. At this moment, however, I hope not. (17/09/2008)

Four amazing actors sold themselves out to a naïve script, a talentless director and a colorblind Greek director of photography. Even the slugs in Microcosmos were filmed in a more dynamic, interesting and original fashion than the dance numbers in this movie, which is just cheap, TV-like entertainment for non-discerning audiences. It is an embarrassment for the first-league Hollywood musical genre. (24/08/2008)

A condensate of ABBA, with lashings of sun-sparkling Metaxa in the form of a refreshing soda. For most people hell, for me a surprisingly bearable guilty pleasure (and shockingly unbearable choreography). Without Meryl, it would have been just half a movie, but so what. She’s here and she’s amazing. It’s just Brosnan who spoils it. As long as he’s sitting there grinning, everything is ok, but he really shouldn’t have opened that mouth of his. His singing sends chills down my spine. Chills of terror, not pleasure. I’m convinced that it’s intentionally over-kitsch ad absurdum and the filmmakers are obviously making fun of it. At least I sincerely hope so. And I’m not looking forward to the Czech dubbed version. I can hear it right now, The Winner Takes It All sung by Czech Golden Girl Vondráčková or other stars of Saturday night variety shows. P.S.: Stellan “I don’t own a T-shirt" Skarsgård’s bare chest is more than a heterosexual man is able to stand in a movie. Much more. (08/08/2008)

Excellent for the effect, but at its core it’s a terribly naive movie with a script so silly that I have to admire the director's courage to dare to make a feature film with it. The dance choreographies are surprisingly bland and the cinematographer must have shot them slightly under the influence, but I still can't slag the film too much. The quartet of excellent actors do what they can, and together with a very pleasant atmosphere, a beautiful setting and, of course, the songs by the immortal ABBA, they manage to trump the non-existent story and somehow live up to the huge expectations that have accompanied this film since its release. Not great, but as an easygoing comedy for a relaxing summer evening it’s OK. 70% (09/08/2022)

It is a musical created with songs by the group ABBA, it is incredibly optimistic and playful, although not all of the songs are always cheerful. I just can't help but rate it high because this is simply a film that always brings me immense joy and I am excited about it. Additionally, some of the newer versions of the songs are also very good, although the original is the original. (25/10/2015)